Chapter Eleven

"Where could she be?" Lily asked while she paced the common room floor. She, Jennifer and Grace had been waiting there for Michelle to come back from the library, and it was now nearly midnight with no sign of her. They were beginning to get worried. "I mean, what could they possibly be doing?"

"Who knows?" Grace said worriedly. "Maybe we should go look for her."

Just as they were about to leave, James, Sirius and Peter came downstairs. They looked a bit worried as well when they noticed that Remus and Michelle hadn't returned yet. "Hey girls," Sirius said. "You haven't seen Remus, have you?"

"No, and Michelle's gone, too." Jennifer said as the boys joined them in front of the fire.

"And we still don't know who she was supposed to meet!" Grace said with a slight pout.

Peter frowned slightly and said, "Isn't it obvious? She was meeting Remus."

The girls grinned at each other, and Lily shouted gleefully, "I knew it! I knew he liked her!"

"But where are they?" Jennifer asked for the millionth time. "They can't be out taking a walk or anything, it's freezing out there!"

Suddenly, something seemed to occur to Peter, and without thinking, he said, "Hey guys, why don't we just check the map?"

Peter paled instantly as he realized his mistake. "What map?" Grace asked, puzzled. Lily and Jennifer looked confused as well.

James and Sirius glared at Peter as he tried in vain to cover his mistake, saying, "Oh, um, nothing, I, um, I mean I-."

James sighed in resignation as he saw the suspicious looks the girls were giving them. "He means the Marauders' Map – it's something we made to help us with pranks."

"I see," Lily said. She did not look very impressed. "And how could this map help us find Remus and Michelle?"

"Simple," Sirius said, as James went to get it. "The map shows the location of everyone in the castle – and on the castle grounds. Unless Remus and Michelle have left Hogwarts altogether, the map will tell us where they are."

As Sirius finished his explanation, James returned with the map. He set it on the table, but before opening it, he turned to Lily and the others. "Now, before I open the map, you girls have got to swear that you won't turn us in to McGonagall. This map is the secret to our success as pranksters, and we would prefer that it remained a secret," James said seriously.

Lily frowned at them. "How do we know this isn't something dangerous?"

James looked offended. Sirius just shrugged, saying, "Remus helped us make it. In fact, it was his idea. And you know he doesn't let us do anything too dangerous."

"Right," Jennifer said skeptically. "So how do you open this thing? It just looks like a regular piece of parchment to me."

"Ah, but that is the beauty of it, my dear," Sirius said grandly gesturing at the map. "But before we reveal our secret, like Prongs said, you girls must swear not to turn us in and not to tell any other students about this."

The girls did so, and James pulled out his wand, tapping the edge of the map with it. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good," he said. At these words the map appeared. Now the girls really did look impressed. Clearly, the Marauders had put an awful lot of work and research into this little piece of parchment.

"Wow," Grace breathed. "You guys made this on your own?" They nodded proudly. This map was their pride and joy.

"We finished it last year," Sirius said. "Took us forever to perfect it, but it was definitely worth the work."

Peter bent over the map, looking for their friends' names. He gasped when he found them. "Uh, guys?" he said, getting their attention.

"What is it, Peter?" Lily asked in concern, noting his now somewhat pale face.

"I found Michelle and Remus. They're in the hospital wing." Peter said.

"What? Why would they be in there?" Grace asked in concern.

"Let's find out," James said as he picked up the map. They all nodded and left the common room quietly. The girls didn't even bother to protest sneaking out, because they were so worried about what could have happened to their friends.

When they reached the Hospital Wing, they were surprised at what they found there. Remus and Michelle were sleeping peacefully, Remus' arms wrapped around her. "Maybe we should come back tomorrow," Lily whispered, not wanting to wake them up. The others nodded, but just as they were getting ready to leave, Remus stirred, and seeing them, he asked, "What are you guys doing here?"

Jennifer stepped forward hesitantly saying, "We got worried when you guys didn't come back. So, we came to look for you."

"I see. And you naturally assumed we'd be in the Hospital Wing?" Remus asked, puzzled.

"Actually, we used the map," Sirius said. "Yeah, we told them. They promised not to tell anyone else." He said, seeing Remus' look of surprise.

"What happened to Michelle?" Lily asked, voicing all their thoughts.

At this, Remus looked both angry and sad. He told them, "Malfoy and some of his friends followed her to the library; they got there before I did. When I got there, I found Andrew Cooke and Rudolphus Lestrange standing guard outside. I told them they'd better get back to their common room, but then I heard someone calling for help from inside the library. So, I hexed them and went to see what was happening. I found Malfoy trying to rape Michelle," Remus finished bitterly.

"My God," James breathed. "Is she going to be all right?"

"Yeah," Remus said. "Madame Pomfrey said that all of her physical injuries will be better in no time. But she's going to need all the support we can give her if she's going to really be able to recover."

He glanced at the others, silently asking them to leave so that they wouldn't disturb Michelle. They nodded and turned to leave, telling him they'd be back in the morning. "Thanks, guys." He muttered as they left.

Michelle spent the next few days in the Hospital Wing, and Remus hardly left her side. The others came to visit as well, bringing her books and food, but Remus was almost always there. Finally, she was allowed to leave on Monday.

"Come on, Michelle. It'll be fine, I'll be with you and so will the others," Remus said. Michelle was dressed in her uniform, and ready to go to breakfast, but she wasn't moving. "Besides, Malfoy and Andrew won't be there. Dumbledore had them expelled, remember?"

She nodded, but just as they were about to leave the Hospital Wing, Professor Dumbledore entered the room. He looked uncharacteristically upset. "Is something wrong, sir?" Michelle asked, noting his concern.

"I am afraid so, Miss Cooke," Dumbledore said. "You are aware that I had Mr. Malfoy and his friends expelled for their treatment of you?"

"Yes, sir," Michelle said, nodding warily.

Dumbledore sighed. "It seems that I have been overruled on this. The school governors have overturned their expulsions. I am afraid, my dear, that they have already returned to school."

Remus stepped forward indignantly, taking Michelle's hand in his. "Sir, I don't understand. They should have been arrested."

"They should have been," Dumbledore said. "Unfortunately, it seems their families chose to interfere on their behalves. They convinced the Ministry that there is not enough proof to arrest them. However, should Mr. Malfoy or any of his friends approach you without your permission again, they will most definitely be expelled." Professor Dumbledore did not look at all happy about the situation.

"I see," Michelle said. She'd gone completely pale while Professor Dumbledore spoke. Remus put his arm around her.

"The other teachers will be watching Mr. Malfoy and the others to ensure that he does not harass you or any other students," Dumbledore said. He turned to leave. "I am sorry, Miss Cooke, but unless something else happens, there is nothing else that I can do."

Remus looked at Michelle as she began to shake slightly. "Shelly, listen. It is going to be fine. I won't let you get hurt, all right? And neither will the others."

Michelle nodded, and they walked down to breakfast.

As they reached the doors to the Great Hall, however, Michelle froze once again. "Remus, I can't. I'm not ready to face them again," she said, before trying to turn around and go back, but Remus caught her.

"Yes, you can. You've got to face them sometime, and you know it. Just ignore them, okay? And don't forget that I'll be right here with you the whole time." Remus said, pulling her back to the Great Hall.

Michelle felt as if everyone's eyes were on her and Remus as they entered the hall; of course, that could have been because they were the late, and Remus was never late. She shivered as she felt the stares of the Slytherins on her, and felt Remus tighten his hold on her shoulders. Their friends welcomed them as they took seats at the Gryffindor table.

Lily smiled as they approached. "Hey guys, how are you?" This was directed at Michelle.

"I've been better," Michelle said, "But I'm glad I've got you guys, or else I probably would have locked myself up in the Hospital Wing."

The others nodded sympathetically as they ate. James growled as he saw that Malfoy was currently sitting at the Slytherin table, eating. "I can't believe Dumbledore didn't expel those assholes," he said, glaring daggers at Malfoy and his friends.

"He tried," Remus said with a disgruntled sigh. "He said this morning that the school governors overruled him. Apparently, their families were able to keep them out of Azkaban and in school by using their so-called influence."

"It's disgusting," Jennifer said. "It's just ridiculous. How could those idiots let them stay? How could their families stand up for them?" The others agreed, but they, with the exception of Remus, were also thinking, 'How could her own brother just let it happen?' Remus had not told the others what Michelle's father and brother had done to her. He knew she didn't want anyone to know.

Michelle sighed. "Look, guys, can we just not talk about it? I just want to move on."

The others nodded, and they gathered their things to go to their first class – Potions. Suddenly, Lily paused. "What is it?" Grace asked her.

"I just thought of something. Michelle, do you have a new Potions partner?" Lily asked in concern.

Michelle went pale and said, "I hope so."

Remus just looked at her as they made their way to the dungeons. "I don't care what Abinger says, you are not partnering Malfoy – or any of his friends anymore."